Image forming device having internal access capability

Abstract

Front and side surfaces of an image forming device are provided with a front cover and a side cover, respectively, which cover an image forming section, and which can be opened and closed. A supporting hinge of the side cover is provided along a lateral edge thereof toward the rear of the main body of the device, and the side cover opens to widely expose a lower portion of the image forming section. Further, by means of an obstructing body provided integrally with the front cover, the front and side covers are given an order of opening and closing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming device comprising: a first transport channel located in a lower part of a main body of said device, for supplying transfer paper;   a second transport channel located in a side part of the device main body, in which an image is formed on transfer paper supplied from said first transport channel; and   a first opening/closing structure provided on the side of the device main body where said second transport channel is provided, having in an upper or lateral part thereof a supporting hinge, on which the first opening/closing structure opens out from the device main body to expose at least a portion of said second transport channel toward said first transport channel.   
     
     
       2. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a second opening/closing structure, provided on a side of the device main body adjacent to the side where said first opening/closing structure is provided, which opens out from the device main body to expose said second transport channel.   
     
     
       3. The image forming device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first opening/closing structure is provided integrally with some structural members making up said second transport channel, and opens to expose a transport surface of said second transport channel.   
     
     
       4. The image forming device as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said first opening/closing structure is provided integrally with some structural members making up said second transport channel, and opens to expose a transport surface of said second transport channel.   
     
     
       5. The image forming device set forth in claim 2, wherein: said second opening/closing structure includes an opening/closing restricting member, which prevents closing of said first opening/closing structure when said second opening/closing structure is open, and allows opening and closing of said first opening/closing structure when said second opening/closing structure is closed.   
     
     
       6. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a switch, provided in the device main body, which controls operation of the image forming device;   wherein said first opening/closing structure is provided with a projection in a position corresponding to said switch when said first opening/closing structure is closed, which performs switching of said switch.   
     
     
       7. The image forming device set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a switch, provided in the device main body, which controls operation of the image forming device;   wherein said first opening/closing structure is provided with a projection in a position corresponding to said switch when said first opening/closing structure is closed, which performs switching of said switch.   
     
     
       8. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said supporting hinge of said first opening/closing structure is provided extending vertically along a lateral edge of said first opening/closing structure.   
     
     
       9. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said supporting hinge of said first opening/closing structure is provided extending horizontally along an upper edge of said first opening/closing structure.   
     
     
       10. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said supporting hinge of said first opening/closing structure is provided in an upper corner of a lateral edge of said first opening/closing structure, extending diagonally.   
     
     
       11. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said supporting hinge of said first opening/closing structure is a fulcrum provided in a corner of said first opening/closing structure.   
     
     
       12. The image forming device set forth in claim 2, wherein: said second opening/closing structure includes an opening/closing restricting member provided on an end of said second opening/closing structure toward said first opening/closing structure, which covers part of said first opening/closing structure when said first and second opening/closing structures are closed, and prevents opening and closing of said second opening/closing structure when said first opening/closing structure is closed.   
     
     
       13. The image forming device set forth in claim 12, wherein: said first opening/closing structure includes a handle for opening and closing the first opening/closing structure, provided in the part thereof which is covered by said opening/closing restricting member.   
     
     
       14. The image forming device set forth in claim 12, further comprising: a switch, provided in the device main body, which stops operation of the image forming device when said second opening/closing structure is open.   
     
     
       15. The image forming device set forth in claim 12, further comprising: paper discharge detecting means, which detect discharge of transfer paper with an image formed thereon, and stop operation of the image forming device.   
     
     
       16. The image forming device set forth in claim 12, further comprising: paper jam detecting means, which detect a paper jam occurring in a transport channel, and stop operation of the image forming device.   
     
     
       17. The image forming device set forth in claim 12, further comprising: locking means, which allow opening of said second opening/closing structure when operation of the image forming device is stopped.   
     
     
       18. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said supporting hinge of said first opening/closing structure is provided along a lateral edge thereof toward the rear of the device main body, so that a portion of said second transport channel toward said first transport channel and a portion of said second transport channel toward a front of the device main body can be exposed.   
     
     
       19. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said supporting hinge of said first opening/closing structure is a universal joint comprised of a concave section and a convex section which engage with one another.   
     
     
       20. The image forming device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said second transport channel comprises a pair of opposing transport surfaces; and   said first opening/closing structure includes an inner surface, and is adapted, when open, to expose at least a portion of one of said transport surfaces of said second transport channel toward said first transport channel, said at least a portion of one of said transport surfaces being formed integrally with said inner surface of said first opening/closing structure.   
     
     
       21. The image forming device set forth in claim 2, wherein: said second transport channel comprises a pair of opposing transport surfaces; and   said first opening/closing structure includes an inner surface, and is adapted, when open, to expose at least a portion of one of said transport surfaces of said second transport channel toward said first transport channel, said at least a portion of one of said transport surfaces being formed integrally with said inner surface of said first opening/closing structure.